OK, maybe ‘shock’ isn’t the best word to use, maybe I could have used “confirmed the obvious” but, there it is. Regardless of how obvious it is, though, it is still a news worthy item in that it finally makes it hit home for some fans; Roberto Luongo has played his last game in a Canucks uniform (of course by saying this the Canucks will hold onto him until December just to mess with me, but for all intents and purposes, Luongo’s time is done here). It’s kind of like when you were a kid, and you started having your doubts about Santa. You didn’t want to believe it, but you just couldn’t see how Santa could fit down that chimney, and why he would want to drink room temperature milk. Still, you held onto some sort of faint hope that maybe things would work out where you could have the best of both worlds. Maybe Santa hired small children to deliver the presents for him, and maybe they fed the disgusting warm milk to the reindeers. But when your parents finally admitted “ok, you got us, there is no Santa”, even though you saw it coming, it still kind of hurts.

And this is what many Canucks fans have to accept now, that Roberto Luongo is moving on. There is no dream scenario of Cory Schneider and Roberto Luongo holding hands, skipping down the hallway, content to split the games evenly next season. There is no scenario where Luongo and Schneider jump into the air, scream “Shneidongo!!!” and combine into one transformer goalie. The only scenario that will play out is the one where Vancouver moves on and puts all their trust and hopes onto the back of Cory Schneider.

It’s a scary time for Canucks fans, as we have been spoiled the last couple of years, having arguably one of the top goaltending duos in the entire NHL. There were times in years past where the Canucks were lucky to escape with a win when the backup was in net (Brochu. What’s up buddy?), but last year, the Canucks had the luxury of starting Schneider or Luongo, knowing both goalies gave them a chance to win any game. There was also the safety net of knowing if either goalie was injured, we had a top goalie ready to come in and play a long stretch of games for us, without a noticeable drop off in talent. In the future, though, if Schneider goes down, we will have to rely upon a veteran backup, assuming the Canucks sign one, or Eddie Lack, a young goalie who hasn’t seen NHL action yet. This is of course the situation most NHL teams are in, however, so it’s hard to feel too bad for the Canucks having too much wealth in nets. It is just something Canucks fans have to get used to again.

Regardless, let’s save the fond farewells for Luongo for when the trade actually goes down (plus you always want to account for that 1% scenario where Schneider quits hockey to fight space monkeys to save the planet earth, thus making Luongo the number one goalie again.) I am of the firm belief that history will be kinder to Luongo. During Luongo’s time here, he faced a ton of criticism, some warranted, some not at all, but he was in my opinion the best Canucks goaltender of all time. All one has to do is remember the years of goaltending we had to endure after McLean’s game went south, and then watch highlights of the 2006 season, Luongo’s first with the team, where he put on a goaltending show the likes of which had never been seen in Vancouver before. So while we wait for the inevitable trade, while we prep all of our stories talking about the impact Luongo had on this town and on our sporting lives, take a moment to have a beer (or glass of water), and raise your glass in appreciation of Luongo’s time in Vancouver. He may not have won a Cup with us, but you know there was nothing he wanted more during his six years with the team. Good luck Roberto!

P.S. Roberto, if you ever face the Canucks on your new team in the playoffs and beat them, you are dead to us all. So, you know…maybe let up on that Mason Raymond wrist shot from center if you face the Canucks. That’s all I’m saying.

Aside from the doom and gloom of pondering Luongo leaving, he did touch on many other subjects during his interview with Cfox. Below is a recap of the amusing Luongo interview gave this morning:

Here is a written recap provided by me. Paraphrased since I’ll be damned if I add every single “and”, “or”, or “the”. I also omitted some random jokes that were not needed, because again, I’ll be damned if I am going to write out every single word. Also please keep in mind that tone is hard to describe via quick paraphrasing, so listen to the interview so you can decide the tone. In my opinion it was a very light hearted, laid back tone the entire interview.

*Show starts off by welcoming hockey player and semi-pro poker player Roberto Luongo*

Cfox: Is there anything off limits? We can’t talk about?

Roberto Luongo: Well I wasn’t impressed with the “semi-pro” poker player part

Cfox: Is this your first interview since the season ended?

RL: Yes it is

Cfox: And you got stuck with us?

RL: Might as well start somewhere

Cfox: Are you strombone1 on twitter? Because if you’re on twitter and you’re a celebrity like yourself, the account would be verified

RL: That’s a great question. I’ve heard a lot about this strombone1 the last little while. I think he’s really funny. I don’t particulary tweet that much.

Cfox: Was that a no? I think we just got politicianed. Roberto, an easier question, our poll question yesterday was “do you pee in the shower?”

RL: That is a great question. I’ve had that issue with a lot of the boys this year in the locker room. I am not a big fan of peeing in the shower. It splashes around…

Cfox: Not the public shower!

RL: Why would I pee in my own shower, that doesn’t even make sense.

Cfox: You’re here for the World Series of Poker main event, is this the first tourney you’ve been in since the season ended?

RL: I’ve been in some small tourneys back home, but nothing of this magnitude. I am just super excited to be here.

Cfox: If you do well tomorrow (World Series poker starts tomorrow), you will be up to midnight!

RL: I’ve had some long shifts online, but I think I can handle it.

*At this point they just discuss poker strategy. I won’t lie, it’s probably not worth me writing it out*

Cfox: What happens if you go so far into the tournament, that would take you into November? The final table is during November, that’s hockey season. What the hell happens then?

RL: I’ll be playing poker then. That’s a no brainer.

*laughter ensues*

Cfox: Did you ask Mike Gillis to limit the teams you’d be willing to be traded to? If so, which teams are they?

RL: We never really had that discussion. Mike threw it out there at our end of the season meeting, but we never really talked about it any further.

Cfox: But there is no way in hell you’re going to Columbus

RL: I’d rather not talk specifics right now.

Cfox: You can’t go to Shitcago.

RL: I know but I’ve always said I like playing Chicago.

Cfox: In a Canucks jersey though…

RL: Hah exactly.

Cfox: Somebody said there were three things you really wanted to achieve in your career. Olympic gold, Stanley Cup, and World Series of Poker bracelet. Will you win the bracelet or the ring next?

RL: Right now I am focused on the bracelet. Once that’s done, I am going to go for the ring.

Cfox: Will the CBA cause any problems with the NHL starting on time?

RL: I can’t see us striking again after what happened last time. There are some issues there, but hopefully we don’t miss any time.

Cfox: What was more of a crushing defeat, getting crushed by the Kings in 5, or seeing your Italians getting smoked by the Spanish?

RL: Tough question. Last one is still fresh, still an open wound.

Cfox: Do you yell at the TV?

RL: Well when you’re Italian you have no choice.

Cfox: Where do you keep the gold medal?

RL: It’s at my home. It’s always with me. When I am in Vancouver it’s with me, when I go home, it’s with me. Great moment, great memories.

Cfox: Do you use the gold medal as a card marker?

RL: That’s a great idea. I should do that.

Cfox: What is your card marker?

RL: I don’t have one. I am going to go on a hunt today to find a fun one.

*More poker talk about playing in Luongo’s tournament at River Rock.*

Cfox: The Canucks signed your friend Cory Schneider to a 3 year deals last week, they seemingly had no choice because they would have been in a bidding war with other teams over him. Did anybody call you before they signed Cory and what are your thoughts on the deal?

RL: Nobody called me, but it was expected. Everyone has seen what Cory has done in Vancouver the last several years. He is a tremendous talent, and the main thing I like about him is he has a great head on his shoulders. He can handle the pressures of the Vancouver market. He will win a few vezinas I’m sure.

Cfox: Any chance in hell you’re in a Canucks jersey this fall?

RL: Never say never, but I think we all know what’s going on, we’ve all seen what’s developed. At the end of the day I think it’s time to move on, and I’m ok with that. I’ve had a great six years in Vancouver and I think it’s a wonderful city. I really enjoyed my time there. Sadly I could never win a cup there, which is probably my greatest regret, but it was a great six years.

Cfox: Is it nice playing in Vancouver because the fans are so passionate, or is it nicer playing in a non hockey market?

RL: I’ve never had a negative encounter with a person in Vancouver

Cfox: They didn’t have the balls to say it to you

*laughter*

RL: That’s the name of the game though. You want to be playing in a hockey market, that’s fun, that’s what hockey is all about. It makes the game fun.

*At this point they start taking calls from callers. Even quicker recap*

– Playing in Vancouver is fun market. Anonimity of Florida is nice for having dinner with the family. When playing you want sold out arena, in a Vancouver type market

– Is Florida a polar opposite of Vancouver? Media scrums were usually around 10 people, compared to shoulder to shoulder rooms full of people in Vancouver

– Would you play in Chicago? A lot of cities are great to play in, Chicago is definetly one of them. But it’s not only Luongo involved in this, depends on Chicago would want him, depends if Vancouver would even trade him there…a lot more involved in this then just Luongo’s desires

– Steve Nash left 9 million on the table to not go to TO, would Luongo leave money on the table not to go somewhere? Contract is already signed, he can’t leave money on the table. Maybe his contract is handicap, but it is what it is. Florida is his home in the off-season, and it makes sense family wise to play there.

– Luongo then says he likes the Chelsea Dagger song. He “heard it seven times one game”

– Could Luongo demand not to be traded? Luongo could but he feels it’s time to move on. Neither one of Gillis or Luongo suggested he leave, it was more of a mutual understanding that it was time for Cory to take over

– Luongo mentioned Florida for the third time. I think he might be hinting at something

– Luongo would not care what he was traded for. (Host asked if he would be pissed if he was traded for a puck bag)

– Last question, are you cut or uncut? Luongo said uncut. Then asked what hair products he used. Luongo said it was all natural. Ending on an awkward note, nice.

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